Join Us On Your Favorite Social Sites

Stats To Chew On... Critical Day In Istanbul

Two more semifinal spots and year-end No.1 are up for grabs today - here's what you need to know.

Published October 26, 2012 12:00

Maria Sharapova

ISTANBUL, Turkey - When the Top 8 players assemble in one city, not only are there going to be thrills on the court, but some great nuggets for all of the stats fans out there. This week wtatennis.com will bring you stats to chew on, from that day's matches to scenarios to some other Turkish delights...

WILLIAMS & SHARAPOVA THROUGH - WHO ARE THE OTHER TWO?Usually in a round robin format, qualifying for the semifinals can depend on everything from matches won to matches played, head-to-head, sets won, even games won if it really gets down to it. But today it couldn't be simpler:

YEAR-END NO.1 - AZARENKA VS SHARAPOVAWhile we know Williams will finish the year at No.3 and Radwanska will finish the year at No.4, the Top 2 is as of yet undecided. But like the semifinal scenarios, the scenario for the year-end No.1 ranking couldn't be simpler:

For Sharapova to be year-end No.1...- Sharapova must win today, win her semifinal and win the final- Azarenka must lose todayAnything else and Azarenka will be year-end No.1...

Friday: Round Robin, Day 4.

(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS #2) vs. (Alt) Samantha Stosur (AUS #9)~ Head-To-Head: Sharapova leads Stosur, 10-2~ It looks like Sharapova dominates the series, but there has been a major shift in power over the last year: while Sharapova started the head-to-head off 9-0, seven of those wins coming in straight sets and the other two with routine third sets, Stosur has gone 2-1 against her over the last 12 months, holding match point in the only loss and the two wins coming in straight sets

Notes~ This match has no effect on the semifinals, with Sharapova guaranteed to finish No.1 in the White Group and Stosur unable to move through~ Sharapova does need to win this to keep her hopes of year-end No.1 alive~ Stosur has won seven of her last 11 matches against Top 2 players

Notes~ The winner of this match will advance to the semifinals (vs Williams)~ Errani was 0-28 against Top 10 players going into the French Open but is 5-4 since then (two wins over Stosur, two wins over Kerber and one win over Bartoli); however, she is a dubious 0-22 against Top 5 players going into this one

(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR #1) vs. (8) Li Na (CHN #8)~ Head-To-Head: Series Tied, 4-4~ The series is even, but Azarenka has won their last three meetings - then again, both of their 2012 meetings have gone to three sets (Azarenka winning 62 16 63 in the Sydney final and 36 63 63 in the Madrid quarterfinals)

Notes~ The winner of this match will advance to the semifinals (vs Sharapova)~ If Sharapova lost to Stosur, Azarenka will be year-end No.1~ If Sharapova beat Stosur, Azarenka can clinch year-end No.1 by winning this (and even if she loses this she'll get it if Sharapova doesn't win the title) ~ Li has two wins over World No.1s: Williams at 2008 Stuttgart and Wozniacki at 2011 Australian Open (she is trying to become the first Chinese to have three wins over World No.1s - Zheng also has two wins over World No.1s)

BONUS STAT: Radwanska & The Number 7Agnieszka Radwanska has had a pretty good friendship with the number seven - she has never been ranked No.7, but she has played World No.7s seven times before (it would be spooky if she were 7-0 against them, but she's 6-1):

... Radwanska has never been ranked No.7 herself - after spending years hovering at No.10, No.9 and No.8, she skipped to No.6 after the Australian Open earlier this year and then climbed to No.5, No.4, No.3 and No.2.